Coin-controlled mechanism for telephone-boxes and the like.



No'. 881,652. F X PATENTED M'AR.10, 1908;

00m CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR TELEPHONE BOXES AND THE LIKE.

2 sHEETs-sEEET 1.

ALPPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1906.

WITNESSES:

RS 60.. WASHINGTON. nc.

No. 881,652. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908.

P. X. BEE.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR TELEPHONE BOXES AND THE LIKE.

APPLIGATION FILED BEPTL 12, 1906.

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2 snms snnm 2.

FRANCIS X. BEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR TELEPHONE-BOXES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 12, 1906.

- Patented March 10, 1908.

Serial No. 334,214.

' and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in coin controlled mechanism for telephone boxes and the like, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective mechanism of this description which will discard spurious coins without turning in the signal to the central station,

-thus detecting the attempted use of such spurious coins.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improvement: and Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same, the lower portion of the casing be ing sectioned away so as to clearly show the arrangement of the mechanism therein.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the box or casing in which the various parts of the apparatus are located, and along the upper edge of this casing are formed the slots B for the insertion of coins of various denominations, below which slots are located the chutes C, each of which consists of two narrow L shaped side bars so as to guide the coin downward if of proper dimension, but should the coin be of less diameter than intended for this particular chute it will fall over the side bars and drop into the bottom of the receptacle.

Each of the chutes terminates in the spout D which leads downward, the lower end thereof being directly above the outer end of the weighing lever E, and this last named lever is pivoted at F, its opposite end carrying the weight G, it being understood that there is one of these weighing levers for each chute and spout. By this arrangement'when a coin of proper weight falls through this spout on to the outer end of the lever E it will depress this end of the lever, causing the weight G to strike the bell H thereby giving the signal that the proper coin has been deposited, but should a spurious coin of less weight than a genuine coin of the roper dimensions be inserted in one of the s ots B and reach the lever E it will not force the weight G into contact with the bell, and consequently the signal will not be sounded and the operator at the central station will be thus warned not to make the connection.

In order that the bells may not be struck by coins falling through the chutes on account of not being of sufficient diameter to be conveyed down said chutes I provide fender plates I which extend over the top of the bells so that any spurious coin falling through the chutes will strike upon these fender plates and thereafter drop into the bottom .of the receptacle without affecting the signal.

J is a permanent magnet, one of which is located beneath each of the chutes C so that the holes thereof lie just below the path of travel of the coin in order that should a slug of iron or steel be inserted in any of the slots when it passes from the magnet the latter will attract the same and prevent it passing down the chute.

K represents the operating shaft having the crank L on one end thereof outside the casing and upon this shaft are loosely secured the retaining bars M, there being one of such bars for each of the slots B, and the nose of this bar normally rests beneath the lower end of the slot so that when a coin is inserted in the slot it will not pass downward to the chute until this retaining bar has been swung upward.

Rigidly secured to the shaft K are a series of kick-oif fingers N, said fingers being arranged in pairs for each chute, so that when the operating shaft is revolved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the kick-off fin,- gers will be swung between the side bars of the shafts beyond the magnets and until they come in contact with the retaining bars M, lifting the same and permitting any coin which may be in either of the slots to pass downward to its chute, and should it be spurious coin or slug of iron or steel it will be caught by the magnet as before described, and when the operating lever is released and sprung back to its normal condition by the spring 0 the kick-oif fingers will kick this spurious coin from the chute causing it to fall into the bottom of the casing thus leaving the chute free for the reception of succeeding coins. This is an important feature of my present invention since it prevents the clogging of the apparatus by such slugs.

By the use of my improvement it will be impossible to operate the telephone or other mechanism to which my invention is applied with spurious or light weight coin or slugs, and the insertion of such spurious coin or slugs will not clog the apparatus and prevent its working upon the insertion of proper coin thereafter.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and useful, is

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing having a slot therein for the passage of a coin, a chute leading from the slot, a permanent magnet located beneath the chute, an operating shaft, a spring for holding said shaft in its normal position, a crank handle for oscillating the shaft, a series of kick-off fingers secured to said shaft and ada )ted to swing between the two side bars of the chute and a retaining bar loose upon said shaft, said bar being adapted to hold. the coin in the slot until the kick-off fingers have been brought into operative position.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing having a slot therein for the passage of coin, a chute leading from the slot, a permanent magnet located beneath the chute, an operating shaft, a series of kick-off fingers carried by said shaft and a retaining bar for holding the coin in the slot until the kick-off fingers have been brought into operative position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS X. BEE.

IVitnesses E. N, SOHOFIELD, S. M. GALLAGHER. 

